Grapple.



I. H. H'R SHAW.

GRAPPLE. y APPLmATloN msn was. 191%.

1,298,762. Patented Apr. 1,1919.`

r wia www UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

JOHN H. HARSHAW, OF ATKINS, ARKANSAS.

GRAPPLE.

Application led August 3, 1918.

To all u'tomI z't 'may concern:

a citizen of theV United States, residing at Atkins, in the county of Pope and State of A\rkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapples, of which the following is a specification', reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in grapples and has relation more particularly toa. device of this general char* l acter especially adapted for use in deep wells or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the same may be caused to effectively .grasp an article desired to be lifted or withdrawn.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved grapple including relatively movable j aws having co-act'- ing means for maintaining the jaws separated.

An additional object of the inventionis to rovide a novel and improved grapple emodying two resilient members connected one tothe other and wherein the inherent resiliency of the members serves constantly to urge the working ends of the members one toward the other, together with means coacting with said members for regulating the tension thereof.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved vgrapple whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered4 simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The novel lfeatures of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceedto describe the'same with reference to the accompanyin drawings, wherein:

igure 1 is a view in side elevation of a grapple constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in edge elevation of the grapple as herein disclosed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the connecting end portions of the arms as herein employed for main- Specieation-of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919. Serial No. 248,193.

taiiing the jaws of the grapple Separated; an

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating a jaw constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of my invention. l

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes an elongated resilient strip which is provided at one end with an opening 2, through which extends a ring 3. Secured to the ring 3, is a connection C whereby the device may lbe lowered or raised in accordance with the requirements of practice. 4 denotes a second elongated resilient plate or strip which is secured at one end as at 5, to the plate 1.

The outer or working end portions of the strips l and l are of substantial duplicate construction and as is particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, cachv of said strips has its outer or working end portion bifurcated as at 5 with thel resultant forks 6 flattened and outwardly disposed relative to the outer lat face of the member. The outer end portions of the forks 6 are provided with the inwardly directed upwardly beveled teeth 7, as are particularly disclosed in Fig. 1.

Supported by each of the forks 6 and intersecting the space therebetween is a bolt 8, and loosely vengaged with said bolt for swinging movement in a direction longitudinally of the adjacent strip 1 or 4, is an arm 9. llhe inner end portions of the arms 9 are in over-lapping relation and pivotally connected one with the other as indicated at 10. These arms form a jointed spreader for the lower ends of the gripping device.

In order to prevent the arms 9 from passing beyond the center when said arms are maintainin the working end portions ofthe strips 1 an 4 in separated relation, I provide the inner ends of the arms 9 with the laterally directed lugs 11, extending one to- 'ward the other and adapted to abut, as is the object to be grasped,

of the strips 1 and 4 will cause the jaws- 7 to be urged toward each other to grasp the object.

n order that the tension of the strips 1 and 4 mayl be regulated I dispose loosely through the strips 1 and 4, adjacent the connection 5a, a bolt 12. In threaded connection with the bolt 12 is a nut 14 or the like, which contacts with the Strip 4. The adjustment of the nuit 14 longitudinally of the bolt 12 will effectively regulate the tension of the strips 1 and 4 when the working end portions thereof' are separated.

In order to gripped upon an object when the spreader has been released, Iprovide the sleeve S Normally this sleeve is disposed adjacent the bolt 12 but when the jaws move inward on the sleeve will slip down on the Shanks 1 and 4 and prevent outward movement of the Shanks.

Fig. 4 illustrates a working jaw particularly adapted for use in connection with cylindrical objects, and as illustrated in said figure the lower end portion of the plate 1a is provided with Ithe inwardly directed flange 15 extending entirely thereacross and substantially perpendicular thereto the working edge 1G of the flange 15 being concavely curved.

It will be seen .that with this device it is possible, by means of the bolt and nut 12 andv 14, to so regulate the tension of the resilient shanks or strips. 1 and 4, that they will grip the object either with relatively great force or with relatively slight force and furthermore it will be noted that the tension may be increased from time to vtime as the natural or inherent resilience of the Shanks becomes reduced through use.

It will furthermore be noted that by forming the strips or shanks 1 and 4 as illustrated in the drawings, that is, terial forming the fork 6, I secure strength at the .gripping ends of the members, while permitting the Shanks and awS to be formed each of one piece of material. Thus I reduce the costof manufacture and render the device particularly Simple.

hold the gripping jaws by twisting the mav 1. A grapple comprising two opposed resilient Shanks contacting with and attached to and lying flat against each other at their upper ends, the shanks at their lower ends being formed with inwardly projecting grappling jaws, a spreader disposed between the lower ends of the shanks comprising arms pivoted to each other and at their outer ends pivoted to the lower end portions of the shanks, whereby when the arms are turned into alinement the lower ends of the shanks will be spread apart, the arms being provided with means preventing the movement of said arms beyond a center when the lower ends of the shanks are spread, and means disposed below the point of attachment of the shanks whereby thc angle of divergence of the upper ends of the shanks may be adjustably limited. j

2. A grapple comprising two opposed rcsilient shanks contacting with and attached toand lying fiat against each other at their upper ends, the shanks at their lower ends being formed with inwardly projecting grappling jaws, a spreader disposed between the lower ends of the Shanks comprising arms pivoted to each other and at their outer ends pivoted to the lower end portions of tho Shanks, whereby when the arms are turned into alinement the lower ends of the shanks will be spread apart, the arms being provided with means preventing the movement of said arms beyond a center vwhen the .lowerv ends of the Shanks are spread, a bolt passing through the shanks below the point of attachment thereof and having a nut thereon whereby the angle of divergence of the upper ends of the Shanks-may be adjustably limited, and a sleeve surrounding the Shanks just belowsaia bolts and having sliding movement on the Shanks when the Shanks are shifted toward each other. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN H. HARSHAW. lVitnesses:

W. J. BowDEN, W. F. TURNER. 

